"—"
But when Miku saw the look in Ellen's eyes, she held her breath.
The reason was simple. She sensed a murderous intent in Ellen's gaze unlike anything she had felt before.
Then—
With a whoosh, Ellen grabbed her by the throat before Miku could react.
Then she lifted Miku high into the air.
"Cough, cough—Ellen... what are you doing...?"
Struggling to breathe, Miku asked with a pained expression.
"P-please let Lady Miku go...!"
"Scoundrel! Do you mean to disregard the Peace Treaty we just signed?"
"Outrage. Going back on your word isn't right."
Before Ellen could answer, the agitated voices of Yoshino and the Yamai Sisters rang out around them.
A tornado filled with Ice Spikes swept toward her.
Ellen calmly raised a defensive Territory. An emerald barrier canceled out the three Spirits' combined attack.
After all, even with Diva's boost, the three of them were still some way from their full strength.
Their attack posed no threat to her.
Her expression unchanged, Ellen spoke in an even tone.
"I'm sorry. I did promise not to hurt you, but my boss apparently doesn't mind switching the target to you."
"How could you..."
Disappointment and anger filled Miku's eyes as she stared straight at Ellen.
Even so, she could do nothing to fight back.
"Don't look at me like that."
Ellen sighed softly, then spoke.
"Just as Element Maker said back then. For a Spirit, you were far too naive to take a human like me at my word."
"—!"
As if recalling something from the past, Miku's eyes widened.
After a moment of silence, she burst into laughter, as though she had given up on everything.
"Haha... hahaha...! You're right... I'm the hopeless one for trusting a human. Even after the way you people hurt me... Humans are—"
"Hm?"